Everything Google knows about you: Data, privacy, risks, and how to control them

La online privacy It is an aspect that worries more and more users. However, most people are unaware of the huge amount of information that Google stores about your daily activities. From the moment we browse the Internet, use an Android device or use any service in the Google ecosystem, we begin to leave a digital trail difficult to imagineIn this article you will discover, in depth and in detail, What data Google collects about you, how to access them, how to manage them, the associated risks, and best practices for protecting your digital privacy. If you've ever wondered, "What does Google know about me?" here's the definitive guide, developed by integrating all reputable sources and resources.

Why does Google collect so much information from its users?

Google, as a technology giant, bases its business model mainly on the personalized advertisingTo do this, you need to create extremely detailed profiles of your users, collecting Information about browsing habits, searches, locations, interests, devices and applications used. Learn here how Google may collect data in different ways, including through its cultural apps..

• La Most Google services are free, but the real “price” is the transfer of personal data.
• With this information, Google optimizes its services and personalizes the experience, but it also uses it to segment, target, and display ads that are much more profitable for its advertisers.
• It's not just Google: other digital giants like Facebook, Amazon, and Apple also collect data, but the depth and variety of data Google manages is unparalleled.

What kind of data does Google know about you?

The amount of information Google can collect from users is staggering. Below, we break down the main data categories that Google may know and store about a person who uses its services:

• Personally identifiable information: name, address, date of birth, gender, email, phone number, profile picture.
• Geographic location: both real-time and location history, daily commutes, routes, cities and countries visited, frequent locations such as home or work.
• Search and web browsing history: All web pages visited, searches performed on Google, activities in Chrome if you're logged in, articles read, videos watched on YouTube, etc.
• Use of applications: which ones you install, how often you use them, actions within Google apps and third-party apps that use Google services (such as Sign in with Google).
• Communication and contacts: Sent, received, and deleted emails in Gmail (including spam), synchronized mobile contacts, event calendar.
• Multimedia data: Photos and videos in Google Photos (including locations), voice recordings, files in Google Drive, listening history in YouTube Music.
• Device information: IP addresses, device models, operating system, mobile operators, serial number, unique identifiers, device activity and maintenance.
• Cookie data and activity on associated websites and apps: which websites you visited, ads you clicked on, pages you saved, online purchases, etc.
• Interests, demographic profile and preferences: age, gender, language, tastes (inferred 'interests'), advertising personalization profile, online activity, and advertising profiling (e.g., whether you have a partner, children, what sports you are interested in).
• Financial information: If you use Google Pay or make purchases on the Play Store, Google knows your payment methods, purchase history, subscriptions, and transaction-related data.

How does Google access all this information?

Data collection isn't limited to a single channel. Google obtains your information from multiple sources, many of which operate in the background without the user's full awareness:

• Android Systems and ApplicationsWhen using an Android phone or tablet linked to a Google account, all device data (location, apps, settings, contacts, photos, calendar, email, etc.) can be automatically synchronized with Google servers.
• Google Chrome browserIf you're signed in to Chrome, your browsing history, passwords, forms, and bookmarks are also synced and associated with your profile.
• Google Maps and location services: Even if GPS is turned off, Google can still track your location using Wi-Fi networks, cell towers, and of course when you use features like navigation, reviews, or timeline in Google Maps.
• Searches and web activityAny search performed on Google, whether on mobile or desktop, is linked to the active account.
• Google Drive, Photos, Keep and other cloud services: Any file you upload or manage, including recently deleted photos, may be stored by Google for a period of time.
• Google Assistant: Voice commands, questions and answers to the Assistant can be saved, along with recordings (if the user allows it).
• Google Analytics and third-party services: Even websites and apps outside of Google can notify you about your visits and activity if they use tools like Google Analytics, AdSense, or AdWords.
• Advertising and cookies: Tracking cookies, tags, and similar technologies allow Google to see what you do outside of its sites and apps (for example, whether you search for a product and end up buying it on another website).
• Synchronization of contacts and calendar: By enabling sync on Android or services like Google Contacts/Calendar, all your phone contacts and calendar events are accessible from your Google account.
• Social networks and apps with “Sign in with Google”: If you use your Google Account as a credential in third-party apps, those apps and Google share relevant information about your usage and actions.

Real examples of what Google knows about a user

To understand the magnitude, here are some examples from real-life cases and public experiments:

• Google can know where you have been every day, every hour, the places you frequent, how you get around, what time you arrive or leave home and work, and even how long you stay in each place thanks to Google Maps location history.
• Thanks to the metadata of the photos, you can know when and where you took each photograph, automatically associating them with locations and trips.
• Search history includes up to voice searches made to the Google Assistant and the exact phrases you spoke.
• Your app timeline It can show all the apps you've opened, for how long, and what specific activities you performed within them.
• The emails sent and received In Gmail, along with drafts and spam messages, are available for automatic processing and may influence the advertising you receive (e.g., if you talk about travel, you may see ads for hotels or flights).
• Google keeps snapshots of the YouTube history: which videos you've watched, when, on what device, and how far along you are.
• The company can retain files you thought were deleted (such as deleted photos from Google Drive or Google Photos that remain in the trash or temporary files), for a certain period of time.
• All connections and third-party apps that you have authorized to access with Google, even those for which you forgot to revoke permissions.
• Advertising profile: age, sex, language, inferred interests (from searches, websites visited, videos, purchases, etc.), prediction of your employment and family situation, purchasing power, and much more.
• Your contacts synchronized from all the Android devices you're logged into and your calendar of events and reminders.
• Details of devices used: mobile model, connection type, IP, operator, operating system, hardware activity, errors or incidents.

Where can you see what Google knows about you?

Google offers several panels from which you can view and manage the information collected:

• My Google Account: The main panel with access to Data Summary, Activity and Privacy, and information about apps, devices, and services used.
• My Activity: Here you can see and filter all your Google activity, from searches and browsing to app usage, YouTube videos, location history, and more.
• Google Control Panel: A summary of all the apps and services you've used, including saved data, email, contacts, YouTube subscriptions, Drive files, and more.
• Ad personalization: View and edit your advertising profile, active interests, and the information Google uses to show you personalized ads.
• Google Takeout: Tool to download a complete copy of all your data stored on Google. You can choose which services you want to include and you'll receive a compressed file with all the available information.

How to download all your data from Google step by step

1. Accede to Google Takeout with your account.
2. Select the services you want to back up. For example: Gmail, Photos, Drive, Maps, Calendar, YouTube, Google Fit, etc.
3. Configure the export format and choose whether you want a .zip or .tgz file, as well as the maximum size for each file.
4. Click “Next Step” and select your delivery method (email link or save to Drive).
5. When it's ready, you'll receive an email with a link to download all the information.

Note that The resulting file can be several gigabytes in size. and contain hundreds of folders and thousands of files in different formats.

How does Google edit each user's advertising profile?

One of the points of greatest concern is the automatic creation of advertising profiles, including those inferred from your behavior. Google identifies:

• Age and sex (by data you provide or deduction based on activity and habits).
• Thematic interests (sports, technology, travel, politics, health, etc.).
• Work and family situation (married, with children, student, professional profile).
• Usual geographical location and frequent routes.
• Consumption profile (what type of products you buy, brands you are interested in, hobbies, purchasing power…).

This data is not always 100% accurate and often includes assumptions that can be modified or eliminated from the ad settings.

What does Google use all this data for?

The main uses of the information collected by Google are:

• Service customization: tailor search results, suggest videos on YouTube, show alternative routes on Maps, recommend apps, etc.
• Targeted Advertising: Show relevant ads to the user based on their interests and habits.
• Product improvement: Analyze usage patterns to optimize existing products and launch new features.
• Security and fraud prevention: detection of suspicious access, impersonation attempts, spam or misuse of services.
• Sales of aggregated and anonymous data (according to current policy and complying with current privacy regulations).
• Artificial Intelligence Training: User data is used in Google AI systems, such as the Assistant, Gemini AI, content recommendations, or automated features.

Does Google share, sell, or transfer your personal data?

Google claims that does not sell identifiable data to third parties, but it does use much of the aggregated and anonymized information to improve products, offer analytics services, and optimize advertising. However, the data collection is so extensive that there are risks and controversies:

• Leakage incidents — Occasional cases where sensitive data has been accidentally exposed.
• Third-party app access — Third-party services can access some of your data if you authorize them, and this access sometimes persists even after you stop using those apps.
• Normative compliance — Google has been sanctioned for GDPR violations in Europe, particularly regarding the “right to be forgotten” and the deletion of personal data upon user request.
• Collaboration with governments — In legal situations, Google may be forced to cooperate by providing user data under judicial request.

What data does each of the Google services collect?

Each product in the Google ecosystem adds new layers of data to your profile. Below are the main ones and how they contribute to the collection:

• gmail: Emails (sent, received, and deleted), contacts, activity, keywords, attachments, spam, drafts, and even the frequency of your communications.
• Google Maps: Location history, routes, places visited, establishment search, reviews made, reservations and favorite places.
• Google Photos: Images and videos, location metadata, date, time, recognized people and activities.
• Google Drive: Documents, files, version history, who collaborated on which file and when.
• Google Calendar: Events, reminders, places, invited people.
• Android: Installed apps, device activity, contacts, SMS (if you allow sync), call history, settings, and more.
• Chrome: Browsing history, passwords, favorites, forms, installed extensions.
• YouTube: Videos viewed and searched, playlists, subscriptions, comments, likes/dislikes.
• Google Fit: Exercise sessions, location, biometric data, aggregated health statistics.
• Google Pay: Bank details, purchase history, cards used, shipping addresses, purchase receipts.
• Google Play: Apps purchased or installed, ratings, subscriptions, download history.
• Google Ads, AdSense, Analytics: Information about your visits to other pages, ad clicks, repeat visits, segmentation by demographics, interests, and location.
• Google Assistant: Voice recordings, transcripts, query and response history.
• Google Keep, Tasks and others: Notes, lists, reminders, contextually associated information.

Technologies and techniques used for monitoring

Google has developed multiple technologies to accurately and continuously track and associate user activity with users, even when switching devices:

• Cookies and tracking tags: They allow tracking of web activity even when browsing in incognito or private mode (although with certain limitations).
• Browser Fingerprinting: Unique user identification based on combined browser/device characteristics, making it harder to evade tracking.
• Advertising and mobile IDS: Tracking between apps, websites and services.
• WiFi and Bluetooth networks: Even with GPS turned off, Google can triangulate your position by using nearby Wi-Fi networks.

Can you control and limit the data Google collects about you?

The good news is that Google provides Advanced tools and settings to review, limit, or delete the information collectedFrom your own account you can:

• Manage activity controls: Pause or delete location history, web and app activity, YouTube history, and control whether voice recordings are saved.
• Edit your ad profile: Access and modify interests, disable ad personalization, block sensitive topics, etc.
• Delete activity: Manually delete searches, locations, YouTube videos, open apps, files, contacts, etc.
• Revoke permissions Third-party apps: Review which apps have access to your account, delete the ones you no longer use, and review them periodically.
• Selective synchronization: Turn off syncing of contacts, photos, calendar, or any other data on specific devices.
• Parental and access controls: Add a second check to access “My Activity” and protect your history from other users with physical access to your computer.
• Set up automatic deletion Data: Set routine deletion (every 3, 18, or 36 months) for location history, searches, and online activity.

How do I disable or limit ad personalization?

La advertising personalization This is one of the main reasons Google creates detailed profiles. You can limit this from your account's ad settings:

• Accede to Google Ads Settings.
• Review your entire list of interests and delete those that don't represent your interests (click "deactivate" for each one).
• Above you will see the option to turn off ad personalizationThis won't eliminate ads, but it will make them less precise and less targeted to your interests.
• You can also block ads from sensitive categories (alcohol, gambling, etc.).

Please note that even if you delete your history and disable ad personalization, Google will continue to collect anonymous information to maintain the basic functionality of its services.

Advanced Management: Download, Mass Deletion, and Account Closure

If you want to go further:

• Download all your data: Use Google Takeout to get a complete copy and review the scope of what was collected.
• Selectively delete information: From My Activity, you can filter searches, locations, videos, apps, and delete anything you don't want to keep.
• Mass deletion: Set up automatic deletion or delete all data from certain categories at once (note: some deletions are permanent and may affect service usage).
• Google Account ClosureIf you want to delete all your data and stop using these services, you can delete your account from the Google dashboard. Before doing so, download all your data, review any linked third-party apps, and keep in mind that emails, files, contacts, and other information associated with the account will be lost.

Risks, controversies, and cases of abuse in Google's data management

The debate over the use and abuse of personal data managed by Google is long-standing and has been surrounded by frequent controversy:

• Lawsuits and sanctionsGoogle has been fined for violating European privacy regulations, for sharing data with third parties without consent, and for hindering the exercise of the right to be forgotten.
• Data collection even in incognito mode: Chrome's incognito mode doesn't prevent Google from recording activity if the user is logged in to their account.
• Collaboration with governments and data transferThere have been reports of collaborations with governments in legal investigations, some of which have been questioned by privacy activists.
• Retention of deleted data: Sometimes Google keeps information for a while even if the user has deleted it (for technical or legal reasons).
• Blurring of information on mapsUsers can request Google to blur their home in Street View as an additional privacy measure, but not all data can be removed at will.

Expert tips to improve your privacy and reduce Google tracking

• Review and update the dashboard periodically My Activity, eliminating all sensitive information.
• Turn off and delete location history if you don't need it for everyday use.
• Don't use the same Google account on all your devices, especially on shared devices.
• Review and remove third-party app permissions.
• Activate the two step verification to protect your account from unauthorized access.
• Consider using alternative browsers and search engines (DuckDuckGo, Brave, StartPage) to minimize web tracking.
• On Android, review and limit app permissions from your privacy settings.
• Avoid sharing sensitive information in emails, forms, or documents unless it's essential.
• Set automatic data deletion at short periods.
• Disable syncing of photos, contacts, and other items you don't need to have in the cloud.

Frequently asked questions about the data Google knows about you

Does Google still save my data even if I delete my history?

Yes, deleting your browser or app history does not automatically delete the history recorded on Google's servers. To actually delete the activity you must do it from My Activity and your account management panel.

Can you use Google services without tracking?

It can considerably limit using accounts without signing in, private browsers, and disabling location and personalization, but you will lose a lot of functionality and there will always be some level of unavoidable technical tracking.

Is it legal for Google to collect so much information?

Google adapts its terms and policies to local regulations, especially the GDPR in Europe. However, it has faced sanctions and legal disputes for practices considered opaque or abusive in terms of privacy.

What alternatives exist to improve Internet privacy?

• Use alternative search engines like DuckDuckGo or StartPage that do not track users.
• Opt for encrypted and private email services (Tuta Mail, Proton Mail).
• Avoid integrating Google accounts on devices or apps where it is not strictly necessary.
• Minimize synchronization and use of centralized platforms.
• Use alternative operating systems or open source apps to minimize dependence on the Google ecosystem.